...He was on the best terms with the constables from the South Gate area.

But... that was over half a year ago.

Now...

He frowned slightly.

His arch-rival had the exceptional luck of breaking through from the Peak of Mingjin to Anjin. With the higher-ups in need of capable men, the Lord Magistrate had been pleased and given the position of City Gate Guard to him.

In the past month, the constables who used to guard the city gates had been almost completely reassigned and reorganized. It wasn’t as convenient as it used to be...

Thinking of this, he furrowed his brow. ’How am I going to get my junior brother into the city?’

At the same time, however, he took two taels of silver from his robes and pressed it into Sun Peng’s hand.

Sun Peng was startled. "Chief Zhou, this..."

Zhou Xing smiled. "It’s nothing. A little something for your trouble, brother. Take it and have a drink."

He patted Sun Peng’s hand.

Sun Peng felt the silver in his hand, but he couldn’t accept it with a clear conscience.

But thinking of An Changyu’s orders, he didn’t dare risk offending him by saying too much. He hesitated.

Zhou Xing was about to ask Sun Peng to walk with him when he noticed the man’s strange behavior.

He paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Brother, is something wrong?"

Sun Peng flinched and said reflexively, "No, noth—"

But when he looked up and met Zhou Xing’s clear, calm gaze, he found he couldn’t get the rest of the words out.

After a long hesitation, he finally grit his teeth and said in a low voice, "Chief Zhou, on my way here... I ran into Chief An."

Everyone at the Government Office knew that Zhou Xing and An Changyu didn’t get along.

Sun Peng was no fool. When An Changyu told him to continue with the message, he knew it must be a trap for Zhou Xing.

’This is the kind of mess a small fry like me shouldn’t get involved in!’

’No matter who wins, I’ll be caught in the middle!’

’...Those two taels of silver from the man outside the city... they’re burning a hole in my pocket!’

But now Zhou Xing had clearly sensed something was off... He was the county’s master detective, meticulous and sharp; he couldn’t be fooled.

Thinking this, Sun Peng decided to just tell him everything.

His thoughts were very clear... ’If An Changyu wants to make a move, he’ll surely use everything he has to take down Zhou Xing.’

’But honestly, the chances of him killing Zhou Xing directly are slim... Zhou Xing has been around the Government Office Entrance for so many years. How could he be so easy to take down?’

’Besides, he’d vaguely heard some rumors that Zhou Xing’s background was frighteningly powerful.’

’But no matter what, even if he doesn’t die, it will still make things extremely difficult for Zhou Xing.’

’...And as an accomplice, wouldn’t Zhou Xing hold a grudge against him?’

’But telling Zhou Xing would be different... First, if he’s prepared, it won’t be so easy for An Changyu to get to him.’

’Second, since An Changyu is the one initiating the attack, even if it fails, An Changyu himself won’t suffer any real loss.’

’He’ll resent me for foiling his plan, of course... but that hatred certainly won’t be as intense as the one Zhou Xing would have if he were successfully framed.’

’Third...’

’Zhou Xing will definitely remember this favor!’

’If An Changyu retaliates, at worst he’ll just make things difficult for me. He wouldn’t dare to have me killed.’

’But if Zhou Xing is badly harmed, and I’m an accomplice, Zhou Xing would surely take vicious revenge... The intensity of that is hard to say.’

’By warning Zhou Xing now, I’m essentially taking his side... Zhou Xing’s reputation at the Government Office Entrance is excellent; he would never stand by and watch An Changyu suppress me.’

’Thinking about it this way...’

’It’s obvious which side to choose, isn’t it?’

Just as he’d expected, when Zhou Xing heard this, his pupils contracted slightly, and his expression turned grim.

But he quickly composed himself, grabbed another handful of silver from his robes, and shoved it at Sun Peng. "Thanks, brother. I understand the situation... Don’t worry, if you get dragged into this, I’ll help you out."

This time, there must have been five or six taels of silver. Sun Peng quickly said, "This is too much! No need, I..."

"Enough. Take it. I’ll remember this favor... Let’s go."

Zhou Xing patted the back of Sun Peng’s hand.

Seeing that Zhou Xing wasn’t making any preparations and still intended to go, Sun Peng couldn’t help but feel puzzled. He asked in a low voice, "Master Zhou, you... aren’t you going to prepare?"

His title changed from "Chief" to "Master."

"Prepare for what?" Zhou Xing narrowed his eyes. "I’m just leaving the city to investigate a case. What preparation is needed?"

In an instant, he had already devised a counter-plan.

An Changyu wanted to use this opportunity to find a weakness. If he were unprepared—for example, if he were caught meeting with Qin Fang and Qin Fang’s status as a refugee was exposed—it would indeed put him in a very difficult position.

’After all, the Lord Magistrate still hasn’t given up on arresting refugees. If I’m found to be consorting with one... a small matter could quickly become a major one.’

’But now that I’m prepared, as long as my junior brother isn’t captured, I can spin the story however I want, can’t I?’

’...An Changyu had a stroke of luck a month ago and reached Anjin.’

’That’s why he was suddenly given a key position, promoted directly from the Household Department to City Gate Guard.’

’But according to the message from my junior brother, he has also broken through to Anjin...’

What could he do but sigh?

’...My junior brother’s Talent is truly astonishing!’

He didn’t dwell on it any longer and said to Sun Peng, "Don’t worry, it’s fine. Let’s go."

Although Sun Peng was hesitant, he sighed and had no choice but to follow.

The two of them left the Government Office Entrance and headed straight for the South Gate.

As they left, many hidden eyes outside the Government Office Entrance watched them, then quickly followed.

When they reached the South Gate, Zhou Xing signaled for Sun Peng to open the gate.

Sun Peng nodded and opened the city gate just a crack.

Zhou Xing stepped outside.

He immediately saw Qin Fang waiting by the gate.

Qin Fang had been waiting for a while. When he saw his senior brother emerge, he was about to go over and greet him.

But his senior brother quickly whispered, "Go to the boarding dock. Monkey will come."

Qin Fang was stunned for a second but immediately grew alert. At the same time, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from inside the city gate, and he looked at his senior brother with a worried expression.